Bucs Fever

The day after the Pirates made the playoffs for the first time in 21 years, it’s business as usual for Andrew McCutchen. The National League MVP candidate ordered food from Subway and went to the ballpark to work out with his team. Just another hungry, blue-collar worker from a blue-collar town.

The last time champagne was popped in a Pirates clubhouse, Barry Bonds was a skinny outfielder about to bolt to the San Francisco Giants. McCutchen was barely 6 years old and living in a one-traffic light town in central Florida.

McCutchen barely sipped any champagne after the Bucs clinched their wild-card berth last week at Wrigley Field. He said it had been chilled too long. Literally.